A GIANTJAW-DROPPER!

McAdoo says ex-Jet Geno could be Eli’s replacement

PHOENIX — Imagine this: Eli Manning eventually passing the baton to Geno Smith. It’s a Big Blue nightmare for Big Blue Nation. Ben McAdoo caused Giants fans to skip a heartbeat and run to their cardiologists Tuesday when he suggested that Smith, the newly signed ex-Jet train wreck, is in line to be the heir to the Manning throne when Eli calls it quits or the Giants ask him to leave.

Geno Smith taking over for Manning? Stop, please. “I can’t see why not,” McAdoo said. Geno Freakin’ Smith. “We’re a long way to go from there,” McAdoo said. “To me, Geno, you look at it, you study the guys coming out, you study Geno, I think he’s right in the mix as one of the better players available this year,” McAdoo said. Oh, boy. Manning is 36 years old with no indication he’s getting better with age like Tom Brady. It was surprising enough when the Giants signed Smith to battle Josh Johnson to be Manning’s backup this season but McAdoo took it a big step further. He’s all-in believing Smith could position himself to have a big future with the Giants.

GM Jerry Reese has made it clear he’s on the lookout for the Giants next franchise quarterback. McAdoo conceded Smith’s presence won’t impact their decision to take a quarterback if next month’s daft if the guy they want is available to them.

If Smith’s four-year career has played out exactly the same way, but it was in Houston or Cleveland or Carolina, basically any place but New York, then McAdoo making Smith out to be a hidden gem might have registered. But his warts were exposed with the Jets for all of Giants Nation to see and it’s not a pretty picture.

He’s immature. He got punched out by a teammate over $600. He missed a team meeting in San Diego when he didn’t know the difference between East Coast and West Coast time. He is not a player teammates follow. He had limited success on the field and is coming off a torn ACL, which will limit him early in the offseason program. “Geno has a compact throwing motion,” McAdoo said. “You look at his profile. He has a quick release, gets it out his hand, a ton of arm strength, he’s mobile. So it will be interesting.” He was 12-18 as a starter for the Jets with 28 TDs and 36 INTs in 33 games. McAdoo stresses taking care of “The Duke,” which is not something Smith does very well. He also fumbled 17 times and lost seven. Didn’t McAdoo watch tapes of Smith? He was knucklehead on and off the field. Why would he bring him into the program? McAdoo loves working with quarterbacks and is excited about trying to get Smith’s career going. It’s a job that would have been too big for Bill Walsh. “I find it very exciting,” McAdoo said. “A guy that has his skill set is hard to find. You can’t find guys out there that have that type of arm talent, the quick release, the throwing motion and the feet that go with it. And he’s a competitor. It’s